Bobcat 553 Specs and Parts Guide

The Bobcat 553 is a compact radial lift skid steer with a three cylinder Kubota diesel producing 22.5 to 25 horsepower depending on series, a 950 lb rated operating capacity and a 3,664 lb operating weight. Overall width is 49.4 inches, and hydraulic pump capacity is 9.8 gpm at 2,000 psi.

Quick Facts

• Engine: Kubota 3 cylinder diesel, 22.5 hp F-Series or 25 hp on other builds
• Rated operating capacity: 950 lb, tipping load 1,953 lb
• Operating weight: 3,664 lb
• Width: 49.4 in over tires
• Hydraulics: 9.8 gpm at 2,000 psi
• Lift path: radial, which suits digging over truck loading

What Are the Bobcat 553 Specs?

The 553 is one of the smallest machines in Bobcat's numbered series, built where access matters more than capacity.

Specification	Figure
Engine	Kubota 3 cylinder diesel
Horsepower	22.5 hp on F-Series, 25 hp on other builds
Rated operating capacity	950 lb (431 kg)
Tipping load	1,953 lb
Operating weight	3,664 lb
Travel speed	up to 6 mph
Hydraulic pump capacity	9.8 gpm
System pressure	2,000 psi
Width over tires	49.4 in (approximately 4.1 ft)
Height to top of cab	72.6 in (6.05 ft)
Length with bucket	107.4 in (8.95 ft)

Note that horsepower is given as a range rather than a single figure. Sub models such as the 553F carry a different rating from other builds, so confirm which you have from the plate rather than assuming the higher number.

What Engine Is in the Bobcat 553?

A Kubota three cylinder diesel, rated at 22.5 horsepower on F-Series machines and 25 horsepower on other builds.

The Kubota engine is a significant advantage on a machine of this age. Kubota industrial diesels are among the most widely deployed engines in compact equipment, which keeps filters, gaskets and injection components readily available long after a machine leaves production.

Two practical notes:

• Engine parts are ordered against the engine serial, stamped on the block, rather than the machine serial
• Confirm the horsepower rating from the plate, since the F-Series and other builds differ and the difference can extend to fitted components

How Much Can a Bobcat 553 Lift?

Rated operating capacity is 950 lb, against a tipping load of 1,953 lb. That is roughly half, following the convention for wheeled skid steers.

Hydraulic pump capacity of 9.8 gpm at 2,000 psi is modest, and it defines what the machine will run. Buckets, forks, small grapples and light augers are within range. Anything needing sustained volume or high pressure is not, and fitting it will produce disappointing results rather than a fault.

At 49.4 inches over tires, the 553 is doing the job it was designed for whenever access is the constraint. It passes through openings that stop larger loaders, which is why these machines remain in use on smallholdings, in stables and on residential sites long after their capacity would suggest retirement.

What Is the 553 Best Suited For?

The machine's radial lift path is as defining as its width, and it is worth understanding what that means before buying.

Radial lift moves the bucket through an arc, reaching furthest at mid height. That geometry favours:

• Digging and backfilling, where the work happens at or below ground level
• Grading and levelling
• General material movement around a yard or site

It is less suited to loading high sided trucks, where a vertical lift machine keeps the load closer in and reaches further at full height. Combined with a 950 lb rated capacity, the 553 is a ground level working machine rather than a loading machine.

Where Is the Serial Number on a Bobcat 553?

The machine plate is generally inside the cab area or on the rear of the machine, and the engine carries a separate serial stamped on the block.

Like other machines in the numbered series, the 553 predates the 17 character machine identification number used on current equipment. The year is not encoded in a single character and modern decoder tables do not apply. Where the plate does not print a date, it is matched against a Bobcat serial range chart instead.

Sub model identification matters as much as the year on this machine, given the horsepower variation between builds. Our guide to Bobcat serial numbers on older machines covers every location worth checking when a plate has gone.

What Are the Most Common 553 Parts to Replace?

Based on our catalog data, compact machines of this age return for four groups of parts.

Bushings and pins. Loader arm and Bob-Tach wear is the defining item, and on a small machine the play shows up in handling sooner than on a heavier one. A Weld-On Bushing replacing Bobcat 6702958 is typical of what is needed.

Cab and visibility hardware, including wiper components such as the Window Wiper Blade replacing Bobcat 7188372, which perish with age whether the machine works or sits.

Filters, hydraulic and engine. On a 9.8 gpm system the filtration is protecting a small pump that is not cheap to replace. A Hydraulic Oil Filter with O-Rings replacing Bobcat 7414582 is the kind of part worth ordering as a set, since a flattened O-ring reused during a service is a common cause of a leak that was not there before.

Vibration dampers and mounts, such as the Vibration Damper replacing Bobcat 6560633, which harden and crack over decades.

What Should You Check on a Used 553?

Small machines are worked hard by owners who bought them because nothing else fits, and they are frequently maintained by whoever happened to be free. Condition varies enormously for the hours shown.

• Loader arm and Bob-Tach play. On a 3,664 lb machine, pin wear shows up in handling quickly. Raise the arms and rock the attachment
• Hydraulic response at temperature. With a 9.8 gpm pump there is little margin, so a tired pump is obvious under load in a way it would not be on a bigger machine
• Sub model identification. Establish whether it is an F-Series or another build before agreeing a price, because it affects both horsepower and parts
• Engine cold start. The Kubota is durable, but glow plug and injection condition show on a cold morning rather than a warm restart
• Chaincase for leaks, which on a machine this size is a disproportionately expensive repair relative to its value

Pin and bushing wear is normal and repairable. Drive or hydraulic trouble on a machine in this value bracket is the finding that changes whether it is worth buying at all.

Are Bobcat 553 Parts Still Available?

Yes, on both sides of the machine. The Kubota engine keeps filters, gaskets and injection components readily available through an aftermarket that serves far more than Bobcat owners.

Machine side hardware is also well supported, because bushings, pins, Bob-Tach components and cab hardware were shared across Bobcat machines from the same era rather than being unique to this model.

Where availability thins is on sub model specific components, particularly where the F-Series and other builds diverge. That is the case where the serial and sub model identification stop being a formality and start deciding whether a part fits.

How Do I Confirm a Part Fits My 553?

Work from part numbers, and carry the sub model as well as the model.

1. Record the machine serial and the engine serial separately
2. Identify the sub model, such as 553F, where the plate or decal shows one
3. Read the OEM number from the component being replaced
4. Measure where dimensions decide fit

Quality aftermarket parts are built to meet or exceed OEM specifications and are frequently the most practical route for a machine of this age. Customers are responsible for verifying fitment. Send the serial and sub model to sales@partsonline.com and our team will confirm the match. Consult a certified mechanic for hydraulic repairs.

Browse the range at Bobcat Parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can a Bobcat 553 lift?

Rated operating capacity is 950 lb (431 kg), against a tipping load of 1,953 lb. The rated figure is what to plan around, with the tipping load marking where stability ends.

What is a Bobcat 553 worth?

Used value depends on hours, loader arm pin and bushing condition, engine health and which sub model it is. A current market check is the only reliable guide for a machine of this age.

What engine is in a Bobcat 553?

A Kubota three cylinder diesel, rated at 22.5 horsepower on F-Series machines and 25 horsepower on other builds. Confirm the rating from the plate rather than assuming.

How wide is a Bobcat 553?

Width over tires is 49.4 inches, roughly 4.1 feet, with a height to the top of the cab of 72.6 inches. That width is the reason these machines stay in service.

How much does a Bobcat 553 weigh?

Operating weight is 3,664 lb. Attachments beyond a standard bucket add to that, which is worth checking against a trailer rating.

What hydraulic flow does a Bobcat 553 have?

Pump capacity is 9.8 gpm at 2,000 psi system pressure. That suits buckets, forks and light attachments rather than tools needing sustained volume.

Is the Bobcat 553 radial or vertical lift?

Radial lift. The bucket moves through an arc, which favours digging, backfilling and grading over loading high sided trucks.

Are Bobcat 553 parts still available?

Yes. The Kubota engine keeps engine parts widely available, and machine side hardware such as bushings, pins and cab components was shared across Bobcat machines of the era. Sub model specific parts are where identification matters most.